Property

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

Thousands of property owners in France sent ‘empty home tax’ bills in error

The bills, payable this December, can run to thousands of euros

Checks and safety laws explained after death in France from carbon monoxide

It kills around 100 and affects 3,000 people every year in France

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Small increase in notaire fees for property buyers expected in France

The fee is expected to generate revenue of €30 million a year to fight against coastal erosion

How a builder's creative tip helped me in my farmhouse renovation

Nick Inman continues with his project to restore an old farmhouse

What you can challenge on a French taxe d’habitation bill - and how to do it

Over €700 million was erroneously collected for the property tax last year

Proposal to make homeowners pay back state renovation aid if they sell within ten years

The amount repayable drops for every year the owners remain in the home

Which came first – the White House or its French lookalike?

Columnist Jane Hanks explores the strong resemblance between Château de Rastignac in Dordogne and the iconic home of US presidents

What are the documents that a landlord cannot request from a tenant in France?

Renters can refuse certain invasive demands from property owners

Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Explore Orne's scenic routes, traditional sausages, and surprisingly affordable property market

Is French second-home property tax levied on garages?

Tax may also be levied on parking spots in certain situations

AirBnb rental laws to be toughened in France

Tax reductions will be partially brought in line for long and short-term rentals, with communes having more power over the market

French fire service asks people to check for empty or unused gas bottles at home

Canisters can be returned to points of sale, reducing fire risk

Are drain unblockers for septic tanks commercially available in France?

Supermarkets offer a variety of standard unblockers

MAP: house price falls in France - see how your area fares in new notaire data

Only a handful of cities avoided a fall in price at the start of 2024

How to identify and destroy toxic plants that grow in French gardens

Some can cause illness or even be fatal if eaten

Widow loses right to live in French property due to lack of maintenance

‘Total and long-standing failure’ to maintain home means it requires complete renovation

Why have we not been paying taxe d’habitation on our French second home?

Exemptions exist but only apply in a very limited number of scenarios

What is the procedure if septic tank is classed as non-conforme?

Rules are different when buying a new home

17 new and recent changes in France

Many of the recently-announced measures will come into effect from January 2025

Ski chalet owners in French Alps hit with exit fees of up to €200,000

Several are taking legal action after being promised they would not face charges when leaving a popular tax-beneficial leaseback scheme run by companies such as Pierre & Vacances

Home buyers given wrong French bank details and must now pay again

Cooperative gave them IBAN of a tradesperson it employed in error. Court has ordered that couple must pay a second €70,000 payment for the property

Explained: rent increase limits in France as latest inflation figures published

Many renters will face price increase in January

France could add VAT to Airbnb-style tourist rentals

MPs say they aim to make competition fairer between rentals and hotels

More second homes in France face higher tax under new proposal

Far-left proposal would see all communes able to levy additional surcharges on second-home tax

Oise: Properties you can buy from €39,000 to €1.9m in the north of France

The department is just north of Paris so buyers may have to look hard for a bargain

How I revived the rusty railings at our old French farmhouse

Columnist Nick Inman explains how an inventive use of copper tubing gave his garden wall a new lease of life

French property and tax: 7 common questions

Rob Kay, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, reviews costs, taxes, and estate planning for UK nationals

More owners will pay French empty home tax in December 2024

The criteria for charging the taxe sur les logements vacants (TLV) were extended last year

What are the rules on building a fence at French property?

Everyone has the right to build one on their own land but local planning regulations may apply

What is the ‘soil survey’ required before fitting a septic tank in France?

Local authorities may ask for an étude de sol before you install a new sanitation system that is not connected to sewers

Marseille looks to be latest French city to crackdown on Airbnb rentals

Mayor of the city also plans to ‘wage war on slum landlords’, and improve social housing

Obligatory garden clearance in France: New campaign clarifies who is impacted

New residents will be told of rules from January onwards

French second home tax notices to be sent in November - who pays it?

Taxe d’habitation was formerly charged on all properties but is now only levied on second-homes

How to see the sale price of property in France near you

A government online tool includes data from the last five years

High level of fraud hits French government energy scheme

Experts demand tighter controls as fraudulent activities cost the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme over €400 million in 2023.

What do French estate agents mean by a maison de caractère?

These large and distinctive properties were once prized by the middle class

How is surplus energy sold to EDF declared on French tax form?

Understanding the declaration process for income, including deadlines and exemptions

Old energy efficiency ratings for French properties invalid from 2025

Many existing energy diagnostics tests will need to be redone

Flooding: why it is important to check your French property damage policy

Severe storms recently hit the country

How to prepare your swimming pool in France for the upcoming winter

The practice can be a way of saving water say swimming pool trade bodies

Natural disaster zones declared near Nice: insurance deadline looms

Declaration relates to landslides in March 2024

What exactly does maison secondaire mean in France?

Property descriptions are related to where you live 'habitually' and have the most links

Are the shutters on my French house essential for insurance?

Insurers recommend them, but the law is clear

Electricity prices will reduce for most French households in January

However the government will seek to increase tax on usage

What gift tax is liable on property in France for UK residents?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query

What are the rules for wood-burning stoves in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Change to timeline of energy efficiency rules for French homes announced by PM

More than 600,000 properties may be affected by rule change, allowing them to remain on rental market

Can I cancel French property tax payments in advance if I will be 75 next year?

There are exemptions from paying taxe foncière for some

Second home US buyers resist French property slump

The second home market performed better than the domestic market according to notaire data for 2023

Why are there strict rules around façades on France's streets?

A range of regulations govern the exteriors of buildings in French towns and villages

Must solar panels installed at home be insured in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader question

PHOTOS: See inside US designer's comfortable French chateau

Esteemed US designer Timothy Corrigan traces his passion for France and the projects he has carried out there, including his own magnificent Loire chateau